We live in the worst timeline, with possibly one exception. We continue to get incredible physical releases of all sorts of movies. This week alone has a ton of wonderful discs coming out. More than enough to break my bank.
Buy ExcaliburI love that it’s not just new, blockbuster hits that get the best releases. In fact, many of those get pretty bare-boned physical releases since those do well in the streaming world. Instead, boutique companies are putting out insanely cool releases of older, cult films.
Excalibur is the perfect example of this. John Boorman’s 1981 film retells the Arthurian legend on an epic scale. It was a modest hit at the time but has become beloved by fantasy enthusiasts the world over. The storytelling is a bit of a mess, but the sets, costumes, and look of the thing are a sight to behold. It is filmmaking at its biggest and most bold. Arrow Video is now giving us a physical release that captures its grandeur.
It contains three discs. There is a new transfer presented in 4K UHD, the 120-minute TV cut, and a full disc of extras. There are making-of documentaries, behind-the-scenes features, commentaries, and more. Plus, it comes with a poster and several lobby cards. The whole thing looks amazing, and to tell you the truth, I just talked myself into buying it. I don’t even love the film, but this is an awesome set. So consider that my pick of the week.
Also out this week:
Westworld: Author Michael Crichton directed this sci-fi film about a fantasy amusement park where rich people can pretend to be in the Wild West battling animatronic gunslingers (and have a roll in the hay with robot girls). When one robot goes rogue (an iconic, black-clad Yul Brynner), things get crazy. Arrow has the release.
Network: Sydney Lumet’s satirical masterpiece stars Peter Finch as a TV news broadcaster who is “mad as hell” and he isn’t going to take it anymore. Criterion has the release in 4K UHD.
Mogambo: Two decades after Clark Gable starred in Red Dust, he starred in this remake with Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly. It isn’t quite as good as the original, but it still has its charms. As you can see by reading my review.
Japanese Godfather Trilogy: Radiance Films is putting out this boxed set of three films, which include: Japan’s Don: Great Yakuza War, Japanese Godfather: Ambition, and Japanese Godfather: Conclusion. Like the title says, this is similar to Francis Ford Coppola’s films in that they follow the leader of a Japanese Yakuza gang.
The Man Who Wasn’t There: This Coen Brothers drama stars a never-better Billy Bob Thornton as a barber who gets involved in a noirish scheme. Criterion has the release.
Iphigenia: This retelling of a classic Greek myth finds Agamemnon faced with a dilemma. His soldiers are awaiting a wind so that they can sail to Troy and rescue Helen. But the gods have decreed he will not get that wind unless he sacrifices his eldest daughter. Radiance Films presents this really quite astonishing drama with a new transfer and some nice extras. You can read my full review.
Boxcar Bertha: Martin Scorsese’s second feature-length film stars Barbara Hershey and David Carradine as a couple of union busters who turn to a life of crime. Cinematographe has given it a new 4K UHD transfer.
Stranger on the Third Floor: Peter Lorre gets top billing in this rather tepid mystery, but he’s only in it for, like, ten minutes. It is worth watching as it is sometimes considered to be the first film noir, and it’s got an interesting dream sequence in the middle of it. You can read my review.
Prison on Fire I & II: Shout Factory presents this double feature of gritty prison dramas from Japan.
She Shoots Straight: 88 Films presents this Hong Kong action flick about a group of lady cops who go after a Vietnamese gang.
The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Collection, Vol. 3: Severin Films presents this collection of cheap B-movies starring the always wonderful Christopher Lee. Films included are: Beat Girl, The Hands of Orlac, The Virgin of Nuremberg, Arabian Adventure, A Feast at Midnight, and The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee.
